Utility valve access and performance evalutation method

ABSTRACT

A vacuum container having a vacuum producing means, mounted on a vehicle, a trailer, or skid mounted, with options chosen from an articulating boom, a water jetter system, a liquid pressure dissipating means, a valve actuator, and a drive motor for the valve actuator being either hydraulic, air, or electric powered, a global positioning system to determine and log the position of work, service or hardware, controls and measuring devices and de-chlorinator.

This application is A Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/683,674and claims the benefits of the parent application Ser. No. 10/683,674filed Oct. 14, 2003

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Utility valves have historically been buried either on purpose of bysilt from storms. Access to the valve was accomplished mechanically by ashovel and hand digging. A hand wrench or hand tool is used to open orclose the valve. In the case of fire hydrants the valve was opened byhand, a fire hose attached and the water flow through the hose wasreleased under pressure on the highway or yard, eroding and doing damageto an expensive fire truck that was driven to the hydrant to receive thewater.

The present invention uses hydro vacuum excavation to access buriedvalves, a power head to actuate the valve and in the case of hydrants, aliquid pressure dissipater consisting of a plurality of baffles releasesthe discharged water with minimum pressure like rain onto the groundthus reducing erosion. A GPS documents physical location and measuringmeans document maintenance condition of the valve and characteristics ofthe utility. Controllers manage the interaction of the various functionsof the invention. The system is mounted on a transportable means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to using a vacuum container having avacuum producing means and vacuum hose to vacuum debris from aroundvalves so that the valve stem or valve handle may be accessed in orderto actuate the valve.

A pressure washer or water jetter may also accompany the vacuum systemin order to dislodge and make vacuum able the debris around a valve orin a valve box. A power head such as a hydraulic motor, D.C. motor, airmotor or air cylinder may be used to actuate a valve. A power boom armmay be used to locate the power head into position. Extensions may beused between the power head and the valve stem especially when a valveis located below ground level. Control means are needed to operate theforward and reverse rotation of the valve stem as well as power headpositioning onto the valve stem. Metering and monitoring means areneeded to document the opening, closing, and torque required to operatethe valve, as well as utility flow volumes and characteristics. Whenlarge volumes or water are released under pressure such as in thetesting of fire hydrants, a pressure dissipating means may be used toavoid water damage to the surrounding area without obstructing the flowfrom test valves.

The above-mentioned means function as a unit to accomplish a commonobjective, which is to access, actuate, and document location, flowrates, pressure, utility characteristics, and condition of utilityvalves.

The above-mentioned objectives are accomplished by the present inventionby constructing a transportable unit consisting of a vacuum containersystem, a water pressure cleaning and jettering system, a power supply,a power head to actuate the valves, a pressure dissipating means and ahose to connect the valve to the pressure dissipating means along with aGPS locator system, performance documenting means and controls tooperate the intersection of the above mentioned system. A de-chlorinatormay be added so as to decontaminate water before it is released into astorm drain or onto the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an end view of a truck with a liquid pressure dissipater 95mounted on a hitch 101 plugged into a receiver coupler 100 at the backbumper of a vehicle. A hitch stabilizer 102 secures the unit. A firehose 93 attaches the liquid pressure dissipater 95 to a fire hydrant 94,which has been opened by a power head 85, which is supported by anarticulating boom arm 86, which is mounted to the liquid pressuredissipater 95. A hydraulic power supply 104 powers the hydraulic drivemotor 85. The hydraulic power supply 104 is battery operated and thebattery is charged by the truck electrical system by way of theelectrical plug in 103. A GPS 90 locates the physical position of thewater hydrant. The baffles 99 in the liquid pressure dissipater 95 allowthe water 97 to fall to the ground like rain. Controls 87 operate thedrive motor 85 and measuring devices 88 record the torque & revolutionsto open or close the valve.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a vacuum debris tank 12 having a filter housing62 a hose reel 37 and a single rear door 18 access to the debris tank12. A power plant 67 consists of a diesel or gas engine to power an aircompressor 105, or 12-VDC generator for charging batteries and poweringthe control systems. A hydraulic power supply 83 may be direct enginedriven, belt driven or 12-VDC battery powered. The hydraulic powersupply 83 may have connections 84 to power tools and portable equipment.The hydraulic power supply 83 may also power the drive motor 85. Thearticulated boom arm 86 may also be hydraulically manipulated. A liquidpressure dissipater 95 is shown mounted to the rear door 18 and liquid 2is shown dropping to the ground. A hose storage area 96 is shown overthe pressure dissipater 95. An articulated boom arm 86, which holds thevalve actuator motor 85, is shown attached to the vacuum containerfilter housing 62. This boom arm 86 may also be used to support a vacuumhose. The boom may be powered by air pressure or hydraulic or linearactuator. An air reservoir 107, air hose 108 and air nozzle 109 areshown loosening debris 45 from a valve box 98. Vacuum hose 17 is shownvacuuming the debris 45 in to a vacuum tank 12. The vacuum producingmeans in this case is shown to be a compressed air venture vacuum source106. The above system is skid mounted 64 so it can be mobilized by askid steer, forklift, truck bed or other mobile vehicle.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 with the exception that the system is shownmounted on a truck bed secured by a gooseneck trailer coupler 63.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2 with the exception that the system ismounted on a trailer and vacuum hose 17 is shown vacuuming debris 45,which has been loosened by a water jetter, which consists of a water jet40, a water hose 58, a jetter water pump 7, a water storage tank 8, anda hose reel 37. The above vacuum and jetter system cleans debris 45 froman in-ground casing 98 or valve box, which allows access to the buriedvalve 92 stem. A de-chlorinator 110 is also shown.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2 with the exception that the system is shownmounted on a zero turn radius vehicle 31 having a powered vacuum boom36. The power head 85 articulating boom 86, which may also be powered ormanual with spring balancing is shown actuating a buried valve 92 bymeans of an extension rod 91.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1 with the addition of a Trailer 31, aHydraulic power supply 83 for operating hydraulic tools 84; ade-chlorinator 110 is also shown. The de-chlorinator removes chlorinebefore hydrant water is disposed on to the ground or storm drain. A toolbox 111 may also have a workbench or workstation attached.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It is the objective of this invention to provide a power head 85, whichmay consist of a hydraulically driven drive motor or a DC electric motoror AC electric motor or an air driven motor or cylinder to turn a valvestem in order to open or shut the valve 92 or hydrant 94.

The power head 85 may be articulated into place over the valve by theaid of an articulating boom arm, which may be manually moved with theaid of springs or it may be powered. Adapters and extension rods 91assist in reaching and coupling the power head 85 to the valve stem ofthe valve 92 or hydrant 94. A Global Positioning System 90 may be usedto document and transmit the date to a computer-mapping program.Measuring devices 88 may document and transmit to a computer program thetorque required to open and close a valve, the number revolution to openand close the valve, the flow through the valve at full open, fullclosed, and values in between, as well as temperature, pressure andmechanical condition of the valve. In the case of fire hydrants 94,which are typically checked for full flow through a fire hose toatmosphere under pressure, a liquid pressure dissipater 95 (consistingof an outer shell, an open bottom, a fire hose connection and multiplebaffles 99 to dissipate energy before releasing the water to the ground)is attached to the discharge of a fire hose 93, which has its supply endconnected to a fire hydrant 94. This liquid pressure dissipater 95 dropsthe water to the ground like rain thus reducing erosion.

The above described means may be mounted on a plug in hitch 101attachment to a vehicle hitch receiver 100 or it may be mounted on thebed of a truck, or skid mounted to be transported by a skid steer orforklift. The system may also be mounted on a trailer.

It is a further objective of the invention to access below groundutility valves, which often requires the removal of debris, gravel, ordirt before the valve stem is accessible to be opened or closed by apower head 85. With hard to turn valves the power head 85 will consistof an impact torque or pulsed torque to loosen frozen valves. Debris,gravel, or dirt 45 may be loosened by water pressure or air pressure tomake it vacuum able. A vacuum container system vacuums an access to thevalve stem 92. A valve box 98 can have silt vacuumed from it with avacuum hose 17 attached to a vacuum debris tank 12, having a filterhousing 62 and a vacuum producing means 11. Said vacuum producing means11 may be generated by a compressed air venturi system or a mechanicalvacuum pump blower.

#DEFINITION

-   -   2—Liquid    -   7—Liquid Transfer Pump    -   8—Container to hold dispensed liquids    -   11—Container to hold dispensed solids    -   12—Vacuum Container    -   17—Vacuum Conduit    -   18—End Door to Vacuum Container 12    -   31—Mobile Platform    -   36—Means to Mobilize Vacuum Conduit 17 with Attachment 32    -   37—Hose Reel    -   40—Water Jet    -   45—Debris    -   58—Jetter Hose    -   62—Filter Housing    -   63—Gooseneck Trailer Coupler    -   64—Skid and Lifting Receiver    -   65—Fill Pipe to Water Tank    -   67—Power Plant    -   75—Independent Hydraulic Drive Wheels    -   83—Hydraulic Power Supply    -   84—Hydraulic Tool and Equipment Connection    -   85—Hydraulic driven motor or electric driven motor    -   86—Articulating boom arm    -   87—Control system for drive motor    -   88—Revolution and/or counter torque for drive motor    -   90—GPS (Global Positioning System) to map location Of drive        motor operation such as the location of a valve to be opened or        closed or a core sample to be taken or a man hole location or        repair point location or bored hole location.    -   91—Adapters for the drive motor such as extensions to Reach and        connect to valve stems or augers    -   92—Valve with valve stem    -   93—Hose    -   94—Hydrant    -   95—Water pressure reducer-diffuser    -   96—Hose storage    -   98—In-ground casing to valve    -   99—Baffling to absorb energy and reduce water pressure    -   100—Hitch Receiver    -   101—Hitch Receiver plug in    -   102—Hitch Stabilizer means    -   103—Vehicle plug in power supply    -   104—Power Supply for drive motor    -   105—Air Compressor    -   106—Compressed Air Venture Vacuum Source    -   107—Air Reservoir    -   108—Air Hose    -   109—Air Nozzle    -   110—De-chlorinator    -   111—Tool Box with workbench top or workstation    -   112—Battery

1. An apparatus for accessing, opening or closing a utility valve,comprising: a mobile platform, and having mounted on said mobileplatform, a vacuum means for vacuuming dirt in order to access an inground utility valve, a valve actuator, a boom means comprising two ormore arms for placing said valve actuator relative to said utilityvalve, and an attachment means for connecting said valve actuator to avalve stem of said utility valve, whereby said vacuum means can be usedfor removing dirt in order to provide access to said utility valve andsaid boom means can be used for supporting and positioning said valveactuator relative to said utility valve, and said valve actuator canopen or close said utility valve when attached to said utility valve. 2.An apparatus for accessing, opening or closing a utility valve,comprising: a mobile platform, and having mounted on said mobileplatform, a vacuum means for vacuuming dirt in order to access an inground utility valve, a valve actuator, a boom means comprising one ormore arms for placing said valve actuator relative to said utilityvalve, an attachment means for connecting said valve actuator to a valvestem of said utility valve, and a Global Positioning System fordocumenting a location, whereby said vacuum means can be used forremoving dirt in order to provide access to said utility valve and saidboom means can be used for supporting and positioning said valveactuator relative to said utility valve, and said valve actuator canopen or close said utility valve when attached to said utility valve,and said Global Positioning System may be used for documenting thelocation that service work is performed on a utility.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein a first end of said boom is pivot ablymounted adjacent to said mobile platform, and a second end of said boombeing connected to said valve actuator, wherein said boom is used forplacing said valve actuator relative to said utility valve and saidvalve actuator is used for opening or closing said utility valve.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said boom includes at least onepower source selected from the group consisting of a spring, a hydrauliccylinder, an air cylinder, and a linear actuator.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said vacuum means comprises a conduitmeans for vacuuming solids or liquids into a vacuum container.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 3, further comprises said attachment meansfor coupling said valve actuator to said utility valve being anextension rod.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said valveactuator comprises at least one power source selected from the groupconsisting of hydraulic, air, and electric.
 8. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprises a control means for operating said utilityvalve.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprises arecording means for recording at least one condition relative to saidutility valve.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprisesmeans for measuring and determining at least one condition relative tosaid utility valve.
 11. An apparatus for accessing, opening or closing autility valve, comprising: a mobile platform, and having mounted on saidmobile platform, a vacuum means for vacuuming dirt in order to access anin ground utility valve, a valve actuator, a boom means comprising oneor more arms for placing said valve actuator relative to said utilityvalve, an attachment means for connecting said valve actuator to a valvestem of said utility valve, and a measuring and recording means fordocumenting the torque required to open or close said utility valve,whereby said vacuum means can be used for removing dirt in order toprovide access to said utility valve and said boom means can be used forsupporting and positioning said valve actuator relative to said utilityvalve, and said valve actuator can open or close said utility valve whenattached to said utility valve, and said measuring and recording meansmay display the torque required to open or close said utility valve. 12.The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprises a water storagecontainer and water pressure system placed relative to said mobileplatform means.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 11, furtherincludes a liquid pressure dissipating means comprising at least ahousing and a liquid inlet conduit attachment.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 11, further comprises a de-chlorinator for removingchlorine from water before said water is placed on to the ground or intoa storm drain.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidmobile platform means is selected from the group consisting of a mobilevehicle, a trailer, a truck, a skid steer, a forklift, and a zero turnradius vehicle.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprises at least one option selected from the group consisting of atoolbox, a workstation, a computer station, a hydraulic tool and ahydraulic tool connection means for powering at least one portablehydraulically operated tool.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 1,further comprises an air compressor placed relative to said mobileplatform means.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 11, furthercomprises an engine mounted relative to said mobile platform.
 19. Theapparatus according to claim 11, further comprises a hydraulic powersupply placed relative to said mobile platform and said hydraulic powersupply having means to power said valve exerciser and said hydraulicpower supply having a hydraulic tool connection means for operating atleast one portable hydraulic tool.
 20. The apparatus according to claim11, further comprises one or more hose reels placed relative to saidmobile platform means.